MovieChat Forums > Hemlock Grove (2013) Discussion > WARNING, SPOILERS: My Theory About Olivi...

WARNING, SPOILERS: My Theory About Olivia

posted 9 years ago by Reagan8084
2 replies | jump to latest

Okay, so my theory is that she didn't just kill the new Shelly because she needed her brand of blood to regain everything she had lost, and then some. Physically, at any rate. Up until now, SHE had been the most alluring woman in Hemlock Grove. She couldn't stand the thought of actually having to compete with her once "ugly" daughter. Norman had told Olivia something along the lines of he loved her since he first laid eyes on her and/or she hadn't changed since he first laid eyes on her. Then you get the bartender, and guys before she started singing karaoke, etc... SHE was the town's most beautiful woman, and she'd be damned if, again, her once "ugly" daughter took her "title" away. And, regardless of her singing, she never gave a flying @#$% WHAT her daughter wanted, she was downright condescending! SHE always made Shelly cry, whereas ROMAN was always cleaning up the emotional wreckage. So, it wasn't just hunger and the whole "unicorn" thing, it was vengeful jealousy. Anyhow, that's my theory. Just sayin'...

"You can wish me Well, or you can wish me Hell."

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Skeletina 9 years ago

That's a really interesting theory. I like it. I interpreted it slightly differently. I think the killing was not just about the hunger/"unicorn" thing (), but more about Olivia giving up on being a 'good' person than her being jealous of Shelly.

As Olivia became "less Upir" she was not as constantly evil as she was in S1, but I think there was a big internal struggle going on. She started to feel emotions, yes, but along with Upir tendencies still being there, Olivia acted like a terrible person for many, many, years. I doubt she knew how to really function as a "good" person. Olivia never really demonstrated being a "good" person (except a few sympathetic moments), despite her new human emotions. Being a good person was more psychological, something she fantasized about, being a "good" mother but more importantly, being the perfect woman for Norman. Sometimes I wonder if the urges she had to be a better mother were really 100% driven by a desire to be more desirable to Norman.

When Norman figured out she killed Marie and made it clear he didn't want a relationship with her, everything fell apart. Why bother trying to be a good person anymore when her motivation was gone? I think she became enraged, with a "screw this" attitude and decided that from then on she would go back to doing whatever she felt like. Potentially curing her cancer and hurting Shelly, someone Norman deeply cares about, were huge bonuses. I think it's possible that she hated the idea of Shelly living a good life when hers went to complete crap. But IMO, Olivia KNOWS she is very beautiful and desired by many. She never showed much jealousy toward other women, particularly in S1. Norman was married to Marie for many years and I think Olivia would have let her live if she didn't show up provoking her (not saying Marie deserved to die).

That's just my take, and I could be wrong. Again, I like your theory! It's interesting to look at things from different perspectives. Regardless of why, it was such a messed up thing to do to poor Shelly.